20+张爱玲经典：《红玫瑰与白玫瑰》英文版

红玫瑰与白玫瑰REDROSE,WHITEROSETranslatedbyKarenS.KingsburyTHEREweretwowomeninZhenbao'slife:onehecalledhiswhiterose,theotherhisredrose.Onewasaspotlesswife,theotherapassionatemistress.Isn'tthatjusthowtheaveragemandescribesachastewidow'sdevotiontoherhusband'smemory-asspotless,andpassionatetoo?Maybeeverymanhashadtwosuchwomen-atleasttwo.Marryaredroseandeventuallyshe'llbeamosquito-bloodstreaksmearedonthewall,whilethewhiteoneis"moonlightinfrontofmybed."Marryawhiterose,andbeforelongshe'llbeagrainofstickyricethat'sgottenstucktoyourclothes;theredone,bythen,isascarletbeautymarkjustoveryourheart.ButZhenbaowasn'tlikethat;hewaslogicalandthorough.Hewas,inthisrespect,theidealmodernChineseman.Ifhedidbumpintosomethingthatwaslessthanideal,hebounceditaroundinhismindforawhileand-poof!-itwasidealized:theneverythingfellintoplace.Zhenbaohadlaunchedhiscareertheproperway,bygoingtotheWesttogethisdegreeandfactorytraining.Hewassmartandwelleducated,andhavingworkedhiswaythroughschool,hehadtheenergyanddeterminationofaself-mademan.Nowheheldanupper-levelpositioninawell-knownforeigntextilecompany.Hiswifewasauniversitygraduate,andshecamefromagoodfamily.Shewasgentleandpretty,andshe'dneverbeenapartygirl.Onedaughter,agenine:alreadythey'dmadeplansforhercollegetuition.Neverhadasonbeenmorefilial,moreconsiderate,thanZhenbaowastohismother;neverwasabrothermorethought-fulorhelpfultohissiblings.Atworkhewasthemosthard-workinganddevotedofcolleagues;tohisfriends,thekindest,truest,andmostgenerousofmen.Zhenbao'slifewasacom-pletesuccess.Ifhehadbelievedinreincarnation-hedidn't-he'dhavehopedsimplytopickupanewname,thencomebackandlivethesamelifealloveragain.RichidlerslaughedatZhenbaoandcalledhimvulgar-literaryyouthsandprogressivetypesdidtoo.ButsincehewasvulgarinaWesternway,theydidn'treallyholditagainsthim.Zhenbaowasn'ttall,buthewasvigorousandquick.Hehadasoy-brownfaceandworeblack-rimmedglasses,withsome-thingpeculiarlyunresolvedinhisfacialexpression.Hisposturewasexcellentandhedidn'tjokearound-unless,thatis,itwasappropriatetojoke.Heseemedfrankandopen,amanyoucouldtakeinataglance-andifyoucouldn'tquitepinpointthesincerityinhiseyes,thoseeyeglasseswereproofenough.Zhenbaocamefromapoorfamily.Ifhehadn'tstruggledtoriseintheworld,heprobablywouldhavehadtostandbehindacounterinashop,andthenhiswholeexistencewouldhavebeenonetinyroundofignoranceandstupidity.Instead,start-inginonhisnewjobafterhisstudiesabroad,hiswindowopeneduponthewholeworld:hehadplentyofopportunitiestolookforwardtoandthebenefitsofanunfetteredmind.Anamazingdegreeoffreedom,allinall.Andyettheaverageman'slife,nomatterhowgood,isonlya"peachblossomfan."Liketheloyal,beleagueredbeautyinthestory,youbangyourheadandblooddripsonthefan.Addafewstrokesofink,andthebloodstainbecomesapeachblossom.Zhenbao'sfanwasstillblank,buthehadadrybrush,awetinkstone,asunnywindow,andacleantable-alljustwaitingforhimtolowerhisbrushandbegin.Thatblankfandidhavesomehazyfiguresintheback-ground,liketheimagesofpeopleinold-fashionedclothesthatZhenbaowastohismother;neverwasabrothermorethought-fulorhelpfultohissiblings.Atworkhewasthemosthard-workinganddevotedofcolleagues;tohisfriends,thekindest,truest,andmostgenerousofmen.Zhenbao'slifewasacom-pletesuccess.Ifhehadbelievedinreincarnation-hedidn't-he'dhavehopedsimplytopickupanewname,thencomebackandlivethesamelifealloveragain.RichidlerslaughedatZhenbaoandcalledhimvulgar-literaryyouthsandprogressivetypesdidtoo.ButsincehewasvulgarinaWesternway,theydidn'treallyholditagainsthim.Zhenbaowasn'ttall,buthewasvigorousandquick.Hehadasoy-brownfaceandworeblack-rimmedglasses,withsome-thingpeculiarlyunresolvedinhisfacialexpression.Hisposturewasexcellentandhedidn'tjokearound-unless,thatis,itwasappropriatetojoke.Heseemedfrankandopen,amanyoucouldtakeinataglance-andifyoucouldn'tquitepinpointthesincerityinhiseyes,thoseeyeglasseswereproofenough.Zhenbaocamefromapoorfamily.Ifhehadn'tstruggledtoriseintheworld,heprobablywouldhavehadtostandbehindacounterinashop,andthenhiswholeexistencewouldhavebeenonetinyroundofignoranceandstupidity.Instead,start-inginonhisnewjobafterhisstudiesabroad,hiswindowopeneduponthewholeworld:hehadplentyofopportunitiestolookforwardtoandthebenefitsofanunfetteredmind.Anamazingdegreeoffreedom,allinall.Andyettheaverageman'slife,nomatterhowgood,isonlya"peachblossomfan."Liketheloyal,beleagueredbeautyinthestory,youbangyourheadandblooddripsonthefan.Addafewstrokesofink,andthebloodstainbecomesapeachblossom.Zhenbao'sfanwasstillblank,buthehadadrybrush,awetinkstone,asunnywindow,andacleantable-alljustwaitingforhimtolowerhisbrushandbegin.Thatblankfandidhavesomehazyfiguresintheback-ground,liketheimagesofpeopleinold-fashionedclothesthatoneseesprintedinlightpurpleinkonelegant,mock-antiquestationery.Beforethewifeandmistress,therehadbeentwoinsignificantwomen.ThefirstwasaPariswhore.ZhenbaohadstudiedtextilemanufacturingataschoolinEdinburgh.Poorstudentsdon'thaveachancetoseemuchwhenabroad,andallthatZhenbaorememberedofBritainwastheUnderground,cabbage,fog,hunger,andstuffinghimselfsick.Asforthingslikeopera,notuntilhereturnedhometoShanghaididhehaveanopportunitytoseeaRussiancompanyperform.Butonesummerhe'dlaidoutsomemoney,takenoffsometime,andgoneonatouroftheContinent.WhenhegottoParis,naturallyhewantedtoseehowverynaughtytheParisianswere,exceptthathedidn'thaveanyfriendswhoknewthetownwellenoughtoshowhimaround.Hecouldn'taf-ford-anddidn'twant-thatkindoffriend.Soheplungedinallonhisown,afraidofwhatitmightcost,afraidofbeingcheatedtoo.OneeveninginParis,hefoundhimselfwithnothingtodo.He'deatensupperearlyandwaswalkingtohislodgingsinaquietbackstreet."AndallmyfriendswillthinkthatI'vereallyseenParis,"hesaidtohimself,almostplaintively.Thestreet-lampshadalreadybeenlitbutoverheadthesunstillshone,droppingbitbybitdowntotheroofsofthesquarecementbuildings,droppingfartherandfarther.Theshimmeringwhiteoftheroofsseemedtobecrumblingaway.Zhenbaowalkeddownthestreet,feelingforlorn.Inoneofthehousessomeonewasplayingapianowithonehand,pickingoutthenotes:Christmassongsplayedveryslowly,oneafteranother.Christ-mascarolsarejoyfulonChristmasEve,butthiswasasummerafternoononalongquietstreetfloodedwithsunlight.Thetimingfeltallwrong,likeadreamsomixed-upandmeaning-lessthatitwasalmostfunny.Zhenbaodidn'tknowwhy,buthecouldn'tbearthesoundofthatone-fingermelody.Hepickeduphispace;hishandstartedtosweatinhispocket.Hewalkedquickly,butthenthewomaninfrontofhim,wearingablackdress,sloweddown;sheturnedherheadjustabitandgavehimaglance.Shewaswearingaredslipunderherblacklacedress.Zhenbaolikedredlingerie.Hehadn'trealizedthatawomanofthissortwouldbeinthisneighborhood,withalittlehotelnearby.Yearslater,whenZhenbaowastellingthestorytofriends,hewouldadoptamockingmanner,happybutatadrueful."BeforeIwenttoParis,"he'dsay,"Iwasjustaboy!Ireallyoughttogobacksomeday,foroldtimes'sake."Thememoryshouldhavebeenaromanticone,butoddlyenoughhecouldn'trecallanyoftheromanticparts,onlytheupsettingones.ForeignersalwayshavemorebodyodorthanChinesepeopledo;thiswomancouldn'tstopworryingaboutit.Henoticedhowshe'dhalfconsciouslyraiseonearmandturnherheadtosniff.Thearmpitsofherclothingweresprayedwithperfume;cheapperfumemixedwitharmpitodorandsoursweatmadeforastrangesmellthathecouldn'tgetoutofhishead.Butwhathehatedmostwasherconstantworrying.Whenshecameoutofthebathroominherslip,sherestedherhandhighonthewall,tiltedherheadtotheside,andsmiledathim-butheknewthatatsomelevelshewassniffingherself.Withawomanlikethis-evenwithawomanlikethis!-thoughhecouldspendmoneyonher,hecouldn'tbehermas-ter.Thehalfhourhespentwithherfilledhimwithshame.Therewasanotherdetailhecouldneverforget.Shewasput-tingherclothesbackon,pullingherdressoverherhead,andwhenshewashalfthere,withthefabricstillpileduparoundhershoulders,shestoppedforamomentasifshe'dthoughtofsomething.Rightthen,hesawherinthemirror.Shehadamassoftousledblondhair,pulledtightbythedresssothatonlyherlong,thinfaceshowed.Hereyeswereblue,abluethatrandownintotheshadowsunderhereyes,whiletheeyesthemselveswereliketwotransparentglassballs.Itwasacold,severe,masculineface,thefaceofanancientwarrior.Zhenbaowasbadlyshaken.Whenhecameout,thesunwasstillshining,withtheshad-owsofthetreeslyingcrookedinthesunlitstreet.Thistoowasnotright.Itwasterrifying.Whoringcanbesleazy,low-class,filthy-miserable,anditwon'tmatter-thatjustmakesitalltheearthier.Butitwasn'tlikethat,notthistime.Later,whenZhenbaohadfiguredouthowtogetwhathewantedoutofawhore,he'dthinkbacktothattimeinParis,hisfirsttime,whenhe'dbeensuchafool.Nowhewasthemasterofhisownworld.Fromthatdayon,Zhenbaowasdeterminedtocreateaworldthatwas"right,"andtocarryitwithhimwhereverhewent.Inthatlittlepocket-sizeworldofhis,hewastheabsolutemaster.ZhenbaolivedinEnglandforaconsiderabletime.Hisfac-toryinternshippaidastipend,andherustledupoddjobsontheside.Oncehe'dmadehimselfabitmorecomfortable,fi-nanciallyspeaking,heacquiredafewgirlfriends.Hewasanicefellow,andhewantedtomeetanicegirl,notsomeprostitute.Buthewasalsoabusymanwhocouldn'tspendlotsoftimeoncourting;naturallyhelikedgirlswhowerealittlemoreforth-right.TherewereonlyafewChinesegirlsinEdinburgh,twoofthemclassmateswhohailedfromtheinlandprovinces-hefoundthemtooaffected,toochurchy,altogethertoopious.Nowadaysthechurcheshavebecomesomethingofasocialscene,withquiteafewbeautiesondisplay,buttenyearsago,theferventchurchgoerswhohadloveintheirheartsweren't,infact,lovely.ThelivelyonesweretheoverseasChinese;mixed-bloodgirlswentevenfarther.ZhenbaometagirlnamedRose.Shewashisfirstlove,whichiswhyhealsolikenedhistwolaterwomentoroses.Rose'sfatherwasagood-lookingEnglishbusinessmanwho'dlivedinsouthernChinaformanyyearsandthen,thankstoapassingfancy,marriedaCantonesegirlandbroughtherhometoEdinburgh.Thewifehadtobelivinginthehousestill,butshewaspracticallyinvisibleandnevertookpartinsocialevents.RoseattendedanEnglishschool,andbecauseshewasn'tcompletelyEnglishsheactedmoreEnglishthantheEnglishthemselves.TheEnglishstudentslikedtoaffectacertaindash-ingindifference,andwhensomethingreallyimportantwasatstake,theaffectationgrewevenstronger.Zhenbaocouldn'tfig-ureoutwhetherornotRosereallylovedhim;he,forhispart,wasratherdazzled.Theybothlikedtodothingsfast,andonSaturdaynightstheymadetheroundsofdifferentdancehalls.Whentheyweren'toutonthedancefloor,butjustsittingaroundandtalking,Roseneverseemedtopaymuchattention.She'dtakeoutsomematchesandtrytobalanceaglassontopofthem.Zhenbaowassupposedtohelp.ThatwasRose:solemnascouldbewhenshewashorsingaround.Therewasacanaryatherplace,andwheneveritsangshethoughtitwascallingtoher."Yes,bird?"she'danswerrightoff,standingontiptoewithherhandsbehindherback,andherfacetilteduptowardthebirdcage.Hertanfacewaslong,notroundlikeachild's,butatsuchmomentssheseemedremarkablychildlike.She'dgazewide-eyedatthebirdinthecage,thewhitesofhereyestingedblue,asifshewerestaringintodeepblueskies.Rosemayhavebeenthemostordinaryofgirls,butherveryyouthmadeherremarkablyhardtoread.Likethatcanary-callingoutbutnotreallysayinganythingtoanyone.Hershortskirtendedaboveherknees,andherlegswerelightandnimble,asdelicatelymadeaswoodenlegsinashopwindow;herskinwasassmoothandglisteningasfreshlyplanedandoiledwood.Herhairwascutveryshort,shaveddowntoalittlepointatthenapeofherneck.Nohairtopro-tectherneck,nosleevestoprotectherarms—Rosedidnotwatchherwords,andherbodywasopenforthetaking.ShewascarefreewithZhenbao,andheputthatdowntoherbeinginnocent,butherbeingsocarefreewitheveryonestruckhimasslightlynutty.Thiskindofwomanwascommonenoughinforeigncountries,butinChinaitwouldneverdo.Marryingher,thentransplantinghertohishometown-thatwouldbeabigwasteoftimeandmoney,notagooddealatall.Oneeveninghedroveherhome,asheoftendid.ButthistimeitseemeddifferentbecausehewasgoingtoleaveEnglandsoonandifhehadanythingtosayheshouldhavesaiditbynow.Hehadn't.Herhousewasquitefarfromtown.Thefaintblack-and-whiteofthelate-nightroadpattedtheirfaceslikeapowderpuff.TheconversationinthecarwasdesultoryintheEnglishfashion,startingandstoppingagain.Roseknewthatshehadalreadylosthim.Then,outofakindofhopelessobsti-nacy,herheartcaughtfire."Stophere,"shesaid,whentheyhadalmostreachedherhouse."Idon'twanttoletmyfamilyseeussayinggood-bye.""I'dkissyoueveninfrontofthem,"Zhenbaosaid,smiling.Hereachedouttowraphisarmaroundhershoulder,andsheburiedherfaceintohischest.Thecarkeptgoing-theywerewellpastherhousebeforeitstopped.Zhenbaoslidhishandunderhervelvetcoatandpulledhertowardhim.Behindheraching-colddiamonds,crinklysilverlace,hundredsofexquisitenuisances,heryoungbodyseemedtoleapoutofherclothes.Zhenbaokissedher,andtearsstreamedoverherfacetillneitherofthemcouldtellwhowascrying.Outsidethecar,adamp,limitlessfogfloatedinthewind.Itsemptinesssappedtheirstrength,andalltheycoulddowashangontoeachother.Roseclungtohisneck,thiswaythenthat,tryingtopullevercloser,wishingshecouldfuseherbodywithhis,pressherselfintoit.Zhenbaowassoconfusedthathecouldn'tthink.HehadneverdreamedthatRoselovedhimsomuch;hecouldhavedonewhateverhewanted.But...thiswouldnotdo.Rose,afterall,wasadecentgirl.Thissortofthingwasnotforhim.Rose'sbodyleaptoutofherclothes,leaptontohisbody,buthewashisownmaster.Afterward,evenhewassurprisedbyhisself-control.He'dhardenedhisheartandtakenRosehome.Justbeforeheleft,heheldhermoistface,withitssnifflesandtearsandquiveringeyelashesthatflutteredinhispalmslikesometinywingedcreature.Inlaterdays,he'drecallthisexperiencewheneverheneededtorallyhisstrength:"Ifyoucouldcontrolyourselfthen,inthatsituation,surelyyoucandosonow."Hisbehaviorthateveningfilledhimwithastonishmentandadmiration,andyetinhishearthefeltregret.Withoutadmit-tingit,hefeltquitealotofregret.Heseldommentionedtheincident,buttherewasnotoneofhisfriendswhowasunawareofZhenbao'sreputationasaregularLiuXiahui,amanwhocouldkeepperfectlycalmwithabeautifulwomaninhislap.Wordhadgottenaround.Zhenbao'sgradeswereexcellent,andbeforehe'devengradu-atedhewasofferedapositionatGreatBeneficence,anEnglishdyeingandweavingcompany;hestartedthereimmediatelyuponhisreturntoShanghai.Zhenbao'sfamilyhomewasinJiangwan,quitefarfromhisjob,andatfirsthestayedwithsomeoldfamilyfriends.Butwhenhisyoungerbrother,TongDubao,finishedhissecondaryschooling,Zhenbaomadear-rangementsforDubaotocomeandlivewithhim,sohecouldhelphimwithhisstudies;hewantedDubaototaketheentranceexamforthetechnicalschoolthatwasaffiliatedwiththeGreatBeneficenceDyeingandWeavingCompany.Theycouldn'tbothstayinthefriends'home;thatwouldbetoogreatanimposition.Asithappened,anoldclassmateofZhenbao's,WangShihong,hadanemptyfrominhisplace.WangShihonghadbeenabroadandhadcomebacktoShanghaitwoyearsbe-foreZhenbao;nowhewaslivinginanapartmentonFergusonRoad.HeandZhenbaostruckadealtheroomwasevenfurnished.Onthedayhewastomovein,Zhenbaoleftworkjustafterdusk.Heandhisbrotherwerebusysupervisingthecooliesastheycarriedthetrunksin,andWangShihongwasstandingarmsakimbointhedoorway,whenawomanwalkedinfromtheroombehind.Shewaswashingherhair,whichwasalllath-eredupwithshampoo,thewhitecurlsstandinghighonherheadlikeamarblesculpture."Whiletheworkmenarehere,"shesaidtoShihong,holdingherhairwithherhands,"havethemarrangeallthefurnitureandthings.It'snouseaskingourmajordomotohelp:he'lljustmakeexcuses-ifhe'snotinthemoodhewon'tdoanything.""Letmeintroduceeveryone,"saidWangShihong."Zhenbao,Dubao,mywife.Ibelieveyouhaven'tmetyet?"Thewomanwithdrewherhandfromherhairtoshakehandswiththeguests,butseeingtheshampooonherfingers,shehesitated.Shenoddedandsmiledinstead,thenwipedherfingersonherdressinggown.AlittleshampoosplashedthebackofZhenbao'shand.Insteadofrubbingitoff,heletitdrythere.Theskinpuckeredupslightly,asifamouthwerelightlysuckingatthespot.Mrs.Wangturnedandwentbackintotheotherroom.Zhenbaodirectedtheworkersastheymovedthebedandwardrobe,buthefelttroubled,andthesuckingsensationwasstillthere.Hismindwanderedasheheadedtothebathroomtowashhishands,thinkingaboutthisMrs.Wang.He'dheardthatshewasanoverseasChinesefromSingaporewho,whenshewasstudyinginLondon,wasquiteapartygirl.SheandWangShihonggotmarriedinLondon,butZhenbaohadbeentoobusytoattendthewedding.Seeingherwasmuchbetterthanhearingabouther:underherwhite,shampoo-sculptedhairwasatawnygoldface,theskinglisteningandthefleshsofirmthathereyesroseatalongupwardslant,liketheeyesofanactress.Herstripeddressinggown,wornwithoutabelt,huggedherbodyloosely,andtheblack-and-whitestripeshintedatherfigure,eachline,eachinch,fullyalive.Peopleliketosaythatthewide,long-sleevedgownsofformertimesdidn'tflattercurvaceousbeauties,butZhenbaohadjustdiscoveredthatthiswasnotthecase.Heturnedonthefaucet.Thewaterwasn'tveryhot,thoughthewaterheaterdownstairswascer-tainlyon,andyetthelukewarmstreamseemedtohavealightedwickrunningthroughit.Twistingandwinding,thewaterranfromthefaucet,everyinchofitalive,whileZhenbao'smindwentrunningofftowhoknowswhere.WangShihongheardthesoundofrunningwaterandcameintothebathroom."Doyouwanttotakeabath?Thewaternevercomesuphotinthisbathroom.Thehotwaterpipewasn'tconnectedproperly.That'sonebadthingaboutthisapartment.Ifyouwanttowash,comeintoourbathroom.""Ohno,pleasedon'tbother,"Zhenbaosaid."Isn'tyourwifewashingherhair?""Shemustbefinishedbynow.I'llgoandhavealook.""Oh,really,it'snotthatimportant."WangShihongwenttospeakwithhiswife,andhiswifesaid,"I'mjustfinishing.Telltheamahtodrawhimabath."Alittlelater,WangShihongtoldZhenbaotobringhissoap,towel,andclothesintotheirbathroom.Mrs.Wangwasstillinfrontofthemirror,strugglingtogetacombthroughhertightlypermedhair.Thebathroomwasfullofsteam,andthenightwindblewinthroughtheopenwindow.Onthefloor,clustersoffallenhairswirledaboutlikeghostlyfigures.Zhenbaostoodoutsidethedoorholdinghistowelandwatchingthetangledhair,intheglareofthebathroomlight,driftingacrossthefloor.Hefeltquiteagitated.Helikedwomenwhowerefieryandimpetuous,thekindyoucouldn'tmarry.Herewasonewhowasalreadyawife,andafriend'swifeatthat,sotherecouldn'tbeanydanger,but...lookatthathair!Itwaseverywhere.Shewaseverywhere,tuggingandpullingathim.Thecouplestoodinthebathroomtalking,butthewaterfillingthetubwasloudandZhenbaocouldn'thearwhattheysaid.Whenthetubwasfull,theycameoutsohecouldtakehisbath.Afterhisbath,Zhenbaocroucheddownandstartedpickingupstrayhairsfromthefloortilesandtwistingthemtogether.Thepermedhairhadturnedyellowattheends;itwasstiff,likefineelectricalwire.Hestuffeditintohispocket.Hishandstayedthere,andhiswholebodytingled.Butthiswastooridiculous.Heextractedthehairfromhispocketandtosseditintothespittoon.Carryinghissoapandtowel,hereturnedtohisownroom--Dubaowasopeningthetrunksandarrangingthings."Whatkindofpersoncouldtheprevioustenanthavebeen?"Dubaoasked."Look,hereunderthechairslipcovers,andunderthecarpetherethosehavegottobecigaretteburns!Andthesemarksunderthetable-theywon'tcomeoff.Mr.Wangisn'tgoingtoblameusishe?""Ofcoursenot.Theymustknowaboutitalready.Besides,we'reclassmatesfromwayback,sotheywon'tbeaspettyasyouare!"Zhenbaosmiled.Dubaofellsilent.Thenheasked,"Doyouknowwhotheprevioustenantwas?""HisfamilynameisSunIthink;he'sbackfromEngland,teachingatauniversitynow.Whydoyouask?"Dubaosmiledbeforehespoke."Justnowwhenyouweregone,themajordomoandtheamahcametoputupthecur-tains.Theysaidsomethingaboutnotknowinghowlongwe'llstay,andtheysaidthatMr.Wanghadwantedtokickoutthemanwholivedherebefore.Mr.WangwasplanningtogotoSingaporeonbusiness,andheshouldhaveleftalongtimeago,butsomethinghappenedandhegotnervous-hewouldn'tleavetilltheotherfellowwasout.Neitherofthembudged-notfortwowholemonths."Zhenbaotoldhimtoshush."Howcanyoubelievesuchnonsense!Whenyouliveinsomeone'shouse,thefirstruleisnevertodiscussthefamilywiththeservants.Thatonlyleadstotrouble!"Dubaodidn'tsayanythingmore.Abitlater,theamahcametocallthemtodinner,andthebrotherswentintothediningroomtogether.ThecookingintheWanghouseholdhadaslightlySoutheastAsianflavor,ChinesefoodpreparedWesternstyle,and.themaindishwaslambcurry.Mrs.Wanghadnothingbutathinsliceoftoastandapieceofhaminfrontofher.Sheevencutthefattypartoffthemeatandgaveittoherhushand."Suchasmallappetite?"Zhenbaosmiled."She'safraidofgettingfat,"saidShihong.Zhenbao'sfaceexpresseddisbelief"Mrs.Wanglooksjustright.She'snotfatatall.""I'vejustlostfivepounds,soI'malotthinnerthanIwas,"shesaid.Shihonggrinnedandreachedovertopinchhercheek."Alotthinner?Thenwhat'sthis?"Hiswifegavehimasharpglance."That'stheLondonlambIatelastyear."Everyonelaughedhardatthis.EventhoughtheTongbrothersandMrs.Wanghadjustmetforthefirsttime,theirhostesshadn'tbotheredtochangebeforecomingtothedinnertable.Shewasstillinherdressinggown,andherhairwasstillwet.Awhitetowelwaswrappedcarelesslyaroundit,andeverysooftenthetoweldripped,spanglinghereyebrows.Dubaowasacountryboy,andMrs.Wang'sfree-and-easywaysstruckhimasstrangeindeed.ButevenZhenbaofoundherprettyremarkable.Mrs.Wangwasextremelyatten-tive,askingallsortsofquestions.Shewasn'tverygoodatkeep-inghouse,thatwasclear,butshedidknowhowtoentertain."1haven'thadtimetotellyou,"ShihongsaidtoZhenbao,"butI'mleavingtomorrow.IhavesomebusinessinSingapore.It'sgoodthatyou'vemovedinandcantakecareofthingshere.""Mrs.Wangisverycapable,"Zhenbaosaidwithasmile."She'llbetakingcareofus,I'msure.Iverymuchdoubtthatitwillbeustakingcareofher.""Don'tbefooledbyherchatter,"saidShihong."Shedoesn'tunderstandathing.She'sbeeninChinaforthreeyearsnow,butshestillisn'tusedtoithere,andshecan'treallyspeakChinesewell."Mrs.Wangsmiledslightlyanddidn'tdisagree.Shemerelysummonedtheamahtofetchabottleofmedicinefromthecabinet,andpouredoutaspoonful.Zhenbaosawthethickliquid,likewhitepaint,inthespoon,andwinced."Isthatcreamofcalcium?I'vetakenthatbefore-ittastesterrible."Mrs.Wangemptiedthespoondownherthroat.Foramo-mentshewasspeechless,butthensheswallowedthemedicine."It'slikedrinkingawall!"shesaid.Zhenbaosmiledagain."WhenMrs.Wangtalks,shehitsthenailrightonthehead!""Mr.Tong,"saidMrs.Wang,"don'tkeepcallingmeMrs.Wang."Shegotupandwentovertoadesknearthewindow.It'strue,Zhenbaowasthinkingtohimself,thename"Mrs.Wang"isjusttoocommonplace.Shesatatthedesk,apparentlywritingsomething.Shihongwentovertoher,puthishandonhershoulder,andbentdowntoask,"You'reperfectlyhealthy,sowhyareyoutakingdosesofthat?"Mrs.Wangkeptonwriting,withoutturningherhead."Theheatisrisinginmysystem—I'vegotapimpleonmyface.""Where?"saidShihong,leaninghisfaceclose.Shemovedasidelightly,frowningandsmilingatonce."Heythere,heythere!"shewarnedhim.Dubao,raisedinanold-fashionedfamily,hadneverseenahusbandandwifelikethis.Hewasunabletositstillandlefttoadmirethescenery.Heopenedtheglassdoorandwalkedontothebalcony.Zhenbaowentonpeelinganapplewithafairde-greeofcomposure.ButMrs.Wangcamebackacrosstheroom,andthrustapieceofpaperathim."There,Itoohaveagivenname,"shesaid."ThewayyouwriteChinesecharacters,youshouldn'tshowthemaround,"Shihongsaidwithasmile."Peoplewilljustlaugh."WhenZhenbaosawt